Switch.



A. W. JOHNSON.

SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED DE() 20, 1912.

Patented De. 49, 1913.

@noauto/p MJU/112.60m;

ARCHER W. JOHNSON, IOli? HOLLAND. MICHIGAN.

SWITCH.

Application led December 20, 1912.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 9, 1913.

serial No. 737,904.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ARCHER W. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residinofat Holland, in the county. of Ottawa and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switches, of which the following is a specification. j

This invention relates to improvements in switches and has particular application to a multiple-gap switch.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a multiple break switch whereby an electric circuit may be opened and closed and which when operated to open and close t-he circuit will make and break respectively the circuit at a plurality of points ,soA as to eliminate arcing or sparking at the contacts.

Itl is also my purpose to providea switch of the type set forth wherein the contacts and blades will be constructed in such manner as to enable the circuit to b e made and .broken quickly and whereby, owing to the number of bla-des and coperating contacts and the construction thereof, arcing will be eliminated in the breaking of the circuit.

Furthermore, I aim to provide a multiple break switch which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, eiiiciency and durability and which may be manufactured and marketed at a relatively lo-w cost. and installed in an electric circuit with ease and facility.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of an electric switch constructed in accordance with my present invention, the casing being removed. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the casing, the switch elements being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View through one of the blades of the movable switch element, and Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the contacts. 1 v

My improved switch is especially designed for use at interurban trolley car stations where, by the use of a signa-l such, for in-A stance,vas a lamp, the motorrnan of a car is advised of the presence of a passenger at the station so that he may bring his car to a standstill. In view of the high voltage or high tension currents, employed on interurban trolley lines, it is practically impossible to use a single break switch as the arcing or sparking at the contacts in the breaking of a signal circuit is detrimental to the switch. By means of my invention, the signal circuit. is made and broken at a plurality of points simultaneously and thus the sparking and the bad effects arising therefrom are eliminated.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the numeral 1 indicates the base of the switch, said base being construct# ed of suitable insulating material and, in the present instance, is of rectangular contour. Suitably secured to the base 1 adjacent to one longitudinal edge thereof are a plurality of pairs of contacts, the contacts 4of each pair being formed of metallic strips 2, 2 each having one end bent upon itself and fastened to the base, 'while the opposite ends thereof diverge outwardly as at 3, 3 to form a substantially V-shape contact 4. Mounted upon the base 1 at the opposite sides of the pairs of contacts and electrically connected with such contacts are bind ing posts 5, 5 whereby the switch may be connected in an .electric circuit. Appropriately fastened to the base and extending outwardly therefrom and spaced apart are pivotl lugs 6, 6 disposed adjacent to the longitudinal edge of the base opposite from the sets of contacts and formed with alining apertures through which is passed a pivot rod 7 secured to a block 8 composed of suitable insulat-ing material and carrying a plurality of switch blades 9 projecting outwardly from one edge of the block and spaced apartdistances equal to the distance between the pairs of contacts. Each blade 9, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, is of V-shape in cross section and is adapted to engage the V-shape contacts formed by the outwardly diverging pairs 3, 3 of the respective pair of strips 2, 2 so as to bridge such strips and close the electric circuit.

By means of the construction just described, it will be seen that when the block 8 is swung about the pivot point, the switch blades 9 will simultaneously engage the pairs-of contacts and so close a plurality of breaks in the electric circuit. On the other hand, whenl the circuit is broken or opened, it will beseen that the switch blades 9 simultaneously leave the contacts and so break the circuit at a number of points thereby minimizing arcing or sparking at the contacts.

In the present instance, the movable element of the switch composed of the block 8 and the switch blades 9 is adapted to be normally disengaged from the contacts so that the electric circuit is normally open.

For this purpose, in the present embodiment of my invention, substantially UL shaped leaf springs 10, 10 each have one limb bearing upon the base while the opposite limb thereof engages the pin 11 extending outwardly from the respective side edge of the block 8. Thus, the springs 10, 10 hold the switch normally open. In order to close the switch, I employ a push button 12 formed with a head 13 slidably disposed within a recess 14 formed in a casing or cover 15 adapted to inclose the switch, while extending from one side of the head 13 is a shank 16 slidably disposed within an opening 17 formed in the wall of the casing 15 coaxial with the depression or recess 14 therein, the shank 1G carrying an eye bolt 18 having the eye portion thereof pivoted within a recess formed in the block 8. Thus, when the push button 12 is pressed, the switch is closed and remains closed so long as the push button is influenced. If, however, the push button is released, the springs 10, 10 act to open the switch.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with, the accompanying draw ing, the construction, mode of operation and. manner of-ernployino` my invention will be readily apparent. t will be seen that I have provided a multiple break switch whereby an electric circuit may be closed for signaling purposes and is automatically opened at a-plurality ofy points subsequent to the closing thereof, thereb eliminating sparking and maintaining t e controlled Ition may-be made within the scope of the claim and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A. circuit closer comprising a base, a plurality of pairs of contacts upstanding from the base adjacent. to one longitudinal edge thereof, pivot lugs on the base adjacent to the opposite 'longitudinal edge thereof, a block pivotally mounted/within said lugs, a plurality of blades carried by said block and extending outwardly from one edge thereofand spaced apart, said blades coperating with said contacts, a casing inclosing said blades and contacts 'and formed with a depression in the top wall thereof and an opening in the bottom wall of the depression, a button slidably 'mounted within the depression, a shank'on said button and extending through the opening, a connection between said shank and block whereby upon the depression of the button, the block will be moved to circuit closing position, and springs holding said blocks normally in circuit opening position.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARCHER W. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

MADELAN A. VAN PU'i'rEN, SARA E. VANDERKMEULEN. 

